The ominous sounds of silence

While renovating their Toronto house a few years ago, friends of ours rented a tiny one-bedroom apartment. When it came time to move into their new, highly modernized home, they experienced a strange reluctance -- the reluctance of people who have discovered how liberating it is not to have much stuff, or much more than a couple rooms to worry about, and a very good excuse to eat out at restaurants. 

Except for always finding one another at the kitchen sink, I expect Bob and I will feel the same on leaving our trailer, which has pared life down to its basics - so basic that getting rid of dirt is now just a matter of a stiff broom and an open front door.  I arrived at the farm late Thurs nite. More progress -- the breezeway between garage and house has been constructed and plans that always looked kind of weird to me now seem completely comprehensible.

However, the next morning, instead of the usual sound of hammers at 6.30, there was only bird song. Silence is beautiful, that is, until you connect it with the fact that nothing is happening. Our work crew, it seems, has moved up and on to build a new house 2 concessions over for Brian Ritchie, the son of our neighbour Dave. They are taking advantage of the fine weather and the break that opens up because you can't do anything much more until the roof goes on. This may be sooner than expected. As of today, Monday, the steel for the roof had arrived and the roofers will soon make the scene.


The individual who didn't make the scene as expected on Friday morning, or even Saturday for that matter, was our electrician Paul. Just as, unusually well dressed, we stepped out of the trailer Sunday morning to go to church, he appeared. Walking a house with an electrician and making critical decisions is bad enough when you're in good shape, but just try it when you're starving. We left him to walk the property while we went to church. Soon we were back and since he was still there we ignored stomach rumbles and went through the tough job of deciding on lights and outlets. Found out, during the process, that we had better get our act together and do some space and furniture planning! Not that I have any confidence in my ability to do this type of thing...

Above: a new breezeway now covers the space between house side door and garage. 
Bob trims back the red pine that has dropped some limbs to the crane and other machines.